Progressive star Warren campaigns with Tennant

ByBy Jonathan MattiseThe Associated Press

AP photo

West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant (left), Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stand together Monday at the conclusion of a campaign rally for Tennant at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown.

AP photo
Gilda Kauffman (left), of Martinsburg, greets West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during a campaign rally Monday at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown.

A crowd of more than 400 cheered on the progressive star from Massachusetts in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, a Washington, D.C., commuter community much closer to the nation’s capital than the state’s. Warren, who says she won’t run for president despite rumors and support, tried to hush chants of “2020” and “2016” coming from the crowd.

Capito wants to align Tennant with President Obama whenever possible, particularly focusing on Obama’s proposal to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants and how it could affect the state’s iconic coal industry. Tennant says she opposes the rules.

Though still a freshman senator, Warren has become a campaign trail staple for Senate Democrats and hopefuls. Since March, she has stumped for candidates in Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Kentucky and has another trip planned for Michigan this week.

In the Senate, Warren led a charge to refinance some student loans by setting minimum tax rates on people making more than $1 million. Republicans blocked the measure, securing a dependable stump speech issue for Warren.

“[Republicans] have said it’s more important to protect tax loopholes for billionaires than it is to help our kids get a college education,” Warren said Monday.

Republicans have blasted Tennant’s decision to bring in Warren, who supports the carbon emissions rule that is so unpopular in West Virginia coal country. The GOP took similar jabs in Kentucky, where coal has been central to Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes’ bid to topple Senate GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Grimes and Tennant both say they’ll fight Obama on the coal regulations.

Tennant responded that she doesn’t agree with Warren on everything.

“I am pro-coal. I am pro-coal miner. I will stand up to [Warren],” Tennant said Monday. “I will stand up to the president. I will stand up to anyone who tries to hurt our coal jobs.”

Tennant, who has about $1.5 million in campaign cash compared to about $5 million for Capito, also hopes to get a fundraising boost from Warren. The senator hosted a Martha’s Vineyard reception for Tennant and Grimes this weekend.